Council for the Synod appreciates family responses
(VIS/Vatican Radio) – The Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops met on 24 and 25
February to discuss the results of the enquiry opened in November 2013 with the distribution
of a questionnaire on themes relating to the family to episcopal conferences around
the world. There has been a very high percentage of responses, and observations from
individuals and groups from all over the world have been added. On the afternoon
of 24 February the Council was presided over by Pope Francis, who also emphasised
in this way the importance he attributes to both the Synod structure as an expression
of episcopal collegiality and the theme that will be considered by the upcoming Extraordinary
Assembly of 2014 and the Ordinary Assembly of 2015. The draft synthesis of the
answers received was appreciated by everyone on the Council. It enables the voice
of the Church to be heard in all her components and in a variety of contexts and situations,
both with regard to the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel of the family with renewed
zeal, and in relation to the challenges and difficulties connected with family life
and the crises it may face. The observations made during the discussion will be
considered in the drafting of the Instrumentum laboris from which the work of the
Synod will proceed. The unitary character of the two stages expected for synodal reflection
on the family, so that at the end of the Ordinary Synod proposals will be presented
to the Holy Father, on the basis of which he will prepare his Apostolic Exhortation. The
Ordinary Council was attended by the relator general, Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop
of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the special secretary, Archbishop Bruno Forte
of Chieti-Vasto. During the meeting the Holy Father blessed the new wing of the
seat of the Secretariat General along with the Chapel and new offices.